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Saturday, 9 November 2013

REMEMBRANCE DAY AND THE POPPY

When I was researching George Howson my 2x great grandfather, I simply searched George Howson England to see what information if any I could find.As you can imagine I found quite a few (4,670,000, to be exact).I have found George Howson, the educator in Yorkshire. I have found George Howson, the silversmith in Sheffield. I have various Howsons who were Innkeepers, and since my George was an victualler, I thought they were possibly related. I still haven't made my way down the list of all 4,6700,000 and now I know that George lived at least for a short period of time in Abingdon, Berkshire, it might help narrow down my search (123,000, my odds are getting better).But at this time of year the George Howson that interests me most is Major George Arthur Howson (1886-1936). He was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Hampshire Regiment in England and served 1914 -1918 in the war. He was promoted to Captain and awarded the Military Cross at the battle of Passchendaele in 1917. He was promoted to Major and left the army in 1920.After the war he started the Disabled Society for injured ex-Servicemen. An American War Secretary was inspired by John McCrae's poem in Flanders Field and started selling poppies as a remembrance for those who had died in the war and to support ex-servicemen.George Howson suggested to the British Legion that his Disabled Society could make the poppies. The poppy was designed so that it could be made by people with disabilities. The legion continues to sell poppies to this day.So, Major Howson, I don't think you belong to me, but thanks for your service to your country and your wonderful idea, that helps make the poppy a symbol of remembrance.